US4633711A - Local display technique for fiber optic illuminator/hood system - Google Patents

Local display technique for fiber optic illuminator/hood system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US4633711A
US4633711A US06/646,715 US64671584A US4633711A US 4633711 A US4633711 A US 4633711A US 64671584 A US64671584 A US 64671584A US 4633711 A US4633711 A US 4633711A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
color
gauge
fluid
light
port
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US06/646,715
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
James H. Hipple
Don W. Smith
Neil E. Reed
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Babcock and Wilcox Co
Original Assignee
Babcock and Wilcox Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Babcock and Wilcox Co filed Critical Babcock and Wilcox Co
Priority to US06/646,715 priority Critical patent/US4633711A/en
Assigned to BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY, THE A DE CORP. reassignment BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY, THE A DE CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: HIPPLE, JAMES H., REED, NEIL E., SMITH, DON W.
Priority to ZA856600A priority patent/ZA856600B/xx
Priority to EP85306226A priority patent/EP0174178A1/en
Priority to JP60193286A priority patent/JPS61105425A/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4633711A publication Critical patent/US4633711A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
    • G01F23/00—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
    • G01F23/22—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water
    • G01F23/28—Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measuring physical variables, other than linear dimensions, pressure or weight, dependent on the level to be measured, e.g. by difference of heat transfer of steam or water by measuring the variations of parameters of electromagnetic or acoustic waves applied directly to the liquid or fluent solid material
    • G01F23/284—Electromagnetic waves
    • G01F23/292—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet
    • G01F23/2921—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet for discrete levels
    • G01F23/2922—Light, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet for discrete levels with light-conducting sensing elements, e.g. prisms

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to fluid level indicators utilizing fiber optic light conducting elements and, more particularly, to an improved method and apparatus for generating a local readout display of a boiler steam/water level.
  • boiler steam/water level readout is typically provided in the vicinity of the boiler drum and at a panel in a remotely located control room.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,182 discloses a fiber optic light conducting system that provides a steam/water level indication for boilers which have both a remote and local readout display of boiler steam/water level.
  • a plurality of tungsten filament lamps are used to generate light beams which are passed through side-by-side red and green filters.
  • the colored light is focused onto and passed through transparent viewing ports of a boiler water level gauge and then through shutters and secondary focusing lenses which direct the beams through beam splitters.
  • the beam splitters divide each of the beams into a major portion which is focused onto the polished input end of a fiber optic cable that transmits the major portion to the remote control room and a minor portion which is reflected to a locally mounted glass diffuser to provide a local indication of steam/water level.
  • excess energy red or green light
  • a fiber optic illuminating boiler level gauge illuminating system is utilized to provide a continuous local readout display without diverting or otherwise sacrificing any of the optical energy going to the control room.
  • a method for optically indicating a fluid level at locations proximate and remote of a level gauge composed of a transparent material and containing a fluid includes the steps of passing a converging bi-color light into the the gauge and the fluid where the light refracts responsive to the type of fluid and the gauge material and diverges through the gauge material to the secondary focusing lens.
  • the refraction of the side-by-side bi-color (red and green) light by the fluid media causes one or the other color to pass through an aperture and onto the secondary focusing lens.
  • a shutter or masking plate having an adjustable aperture is provided between the gauge and the secondary focusing lens.
  • the aperture and the secondary focusing lens are aligned in the path of the diverging light advancing from the gauge in order to pass one color of the diverging light, through the aperture, to the secondary focusing lens and, as well, around the secondary focusing lens.
  • the other color is masked by the masking plate.
  • the alternate colors are selectively masked or passed by the masking plate as a function of the refractive index of the type of gauge material and the type of fluid through which the bi-color light is passed.
  • the central portion of the one color of the diverging light which is passed through the secondary focusing lens, is focused directly onto a locally receiving face of a fiber optic cable operatively connected to a remote readout assembly.
  • Part of the remaining portion of the diverging light preferably the portion of diverging light which passes above or below the secondary focusing lens, illuminates a glass diffuser proximate to the gauge operatively creating a continuous local readout display.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic planar representation of a water level indicator arrangement of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational representation of a water level indicator arrangement of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic representations of a vertical projection of a color image onto a secondary focusing lens and diffuser arranged according to the present invention.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a fiber optic illuminator including an indicator assembly 10 and a fiber optic light conducting system 20 for monitoring the steam/water level of a boiler drum. It should be understood that, while the following description is directed to boiler water level monitoring, such is merely illustrative of a preferred application of the invention and that the described technique, assembly and system may be employed in various fluid level monitoring applications.
  • the indicator assembly 10 and fiber optic light conducting system 20 are described herein in terms of a single port of what is usually a five-port or more type water level assembly having vertically aligned ports which typically correspond to particular fluid levels of the instrumented equipment.
  • the components of the indicator assembly and fiber optic light conducting system are duplicated for each port of the water level gauge.
  • the indicator assembly includes a tungsten-halogen lamp 12, a bi-color filter assembly 13 embodying a red filter 14 and a green filter 15, a primary focusing lens 16 located between the filter assembly 13 and a port 11 of the water level gauge, a shutter or masking plate 17 and a secondary focusing lens 18.
  • the secondary focusing lens 18 demagnifies and focuses the respective color image onto the input end 21 of a fiber optic cable 22 which, in turn, transmits the image to a viewer 23 mounted on a console in a remote control room.
  • the red and green filters 14, 15 are positioned, side-by-side, to pass the two colors red and green of a light beam, generated by the lamp 12, through the water level gauge viewing port 11.
  • the colors green and red are accepted in the power industry as standard colors for indicating water and steam, respectively.
  • the level gauge contains water and steam at high temperature and pressure.
  • the level gauge viewing port 11 is composed of a transparent material which comprises a high strength glass and protective mica barrier as the fluid boundary.
  • the bi-color light passes from the transparent material through either water or steam. Since the refraction indices are different, the respective refractions laterally shift the transmission path of the horizontally adjacent, side-by-side, colors left or right.
  • the bi-color light leaving the gauge viewing port 11 is diverging because of the primary lens focal characteristics and diffusion properties of the port materials.
  • An aperture in the masking plate is aligned so that one color of the bi-color light will pass through the aperture in the masking plate 17.
  • the bi-color light is shifted by the refraction properties of the water and gauge material so that the color green is passed through the aperture 17 and the color red is blocked or masked by the plate. If steam is in the viewing port, the color red is passed through the aperture and the color green is shifted off the secondary lens 18.
  • the central portion of the diverging colored light which passes through the aperture is directed to the secondary lens 18 which focuses the light onto the input end of the fiber optic cable 21. Since the colored light is diverging, some of the light rays 19 do not pass through the secondary focusing lens 18 but passes outside of the periphery of the lens 18.
  • a direct local display is obtained by providing a second viewing port, for example, in the form of a glass diffuser 30, to intercept at least a part of the remaining portion of the one color of the diverging light advancing from the gauge viewing port and aperture.
  • the glass diffuser is preferably located to intercept light advancing past the secondary lens 18, above or below the lens 18 to intercept diffused light rays 19 which pass through an optical path outside of the secondary lens 18.
  • a common vertical plane passes through the vertical centerline of each of the aperture 17, the focusing lens 18 and the glass diffuser 30.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically illustrate the vertical superpositioning of the secondary focusing lens 18, the optical window or path 31, the local readout diffuser 30 as well as the superposition of a projection of the bi-color image 32 upon the lens 18 and path 31.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the superposition of the green zone 33 onto the lens 18 and path 31 to the diffuser 30 to indicate a water condition in the level gauge port 11.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the superposition of the red zone 34 of the bi-color image onto the lens 18 and path 31 to the diffuser 30 to indicate that steam is in the level gauge port 11.
  • a method for optically indicating a fluid level at locations proximate and remote of a viewing port 11 of a level gauge composed of a transparent material fluid boundary containing a fluid.
  • the method includes the steps of passing a bi-color light through the port of the gauge whereby the bi-color refracts responsive to the type of the fluid and the gauge material and thereafter diverges out from the gauge material, providing a masking plate 17 having an aperture between the gauge and the focusing lens 18, and aligning the aperture and the focusing lens 18 in the path of the diverging light so as to pass one color of the diverging light through the aperture to and above and below the focusing lens 18.
  • the method moreover, further includes the steps of focusing the one color of the diverging light passed to the focusing lens 18 into a locally receiving face 21 of a fiber optic cable 22 of a remote readout assembly and illuminating a glass diffuser 30, proximate the gauge viewing port 11 with the one color of the diverging light which passes above or below the focusing lens 18.
  • the inventive technique provides a continuous local display which has several important advantages over prior art systems.
  • the local display achieved by the inventive technique does not require the diversion or dissipation of any of the light which provides the remote or control room image. There are no adjustments which have to be made.
  • the local display moreover, is direct and passive and does not rely upon any intermediate components to create the image. Accordingly, the local display remains operational in emergency situations even though the fiber optic cable may be severed, for example, by fire.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
  • Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
  • Measurement Of Levels Of Liquids Or Fluent Solid Materials (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
US06/646,715 1984-09-04 1984-09-04 Local display technique for fiber optic illuminator/hood system Expired - Fee Related US4633711A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/646,715 US4633711A (en) 1984-09-04 1984-09-04 Local display technique for fiber optic illuminator/hood system
ZA856600A ZA856600B (en) 1984-09-04 1985-08-29 Local display technique for fiber optic illuminator/hood system
EP85306226A EP0174178A1 (en) 1984-09-04 1985-09-02 Optical fluid level indicator
JP60193286A JPS61105425A (ja) 1984-09-04 1985-09-03 光フアイバ照明装置・フ−ドシステム用局部的表示方法

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/646,715 US4633711A (en) 1984-09-04 1984-09-04 Local display technique for fiber optic illuminator/hood system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4633711A true US4633711A (en) 1987-01-06

Family

ID=24594173

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/646,715 Expired - Fee Related US4633711A (en) 1984-09-04 1984-09-04 Local display technique for fiber optic illuminator/hood system

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4633711A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
EP (1) EP0174178A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS61105425A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ZA (1) ZA856600B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5164605A (en) * 1991-08-14 1992-11-17 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Fiber optic displacement sensor using fiber optic coil
US20050056091A1 (en) * 2003-09-12 2005-03-17 Kowalski Kenneth H. Liquid level gage and illuminator therefor
WO2005059481A1 (fr) * 2003-12-19 2005-06-30 Fenghua Zhang Appareil de chauffage d'eau a usage domestique dote d'un indicateur de niveau d'eau colore
US20050155425A1 (en) * 2002-11-04 2005-07-21 Fossil Steam Technologies Inc. Solid state illuminator for bi-colour ported water level gauges
US20070284097A1 (en) * 2006-06-08 2007-12-13 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Consumable downhole tools
US20080202764A1 (en) * 2007-02-22 2008-08-28 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Consumable downhole tools
US7591318B2 (en) 2006-07-20 2009-09-22 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Method for removing a sealing plug from a well
US20100108327A1 (en) * 2006-06-08 2010-05-06 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Consumable Downhole Tools
US8235102B1 (en) 2008-03-26 2012-08-07 Robertson Intellectual Properties, LLC Consumable downhole tool
US8327926B2 (en) 2008-03-26 2012-12-11 Robertson Intellectual Properties, LLC Method for removing a consumable downhole tool
US11183284B2 (en) * 2015-06-01 2021-11-23 Digital Hospital, Inc. Dosage confirmation apparatus

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0435773Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1987-11-13 1992-08-25
DE102020202401A1 (de) 2020-02-25 2021-08-26 Free Life Medical Gmbh System zum Zuführen und Entnehmen von Blut nebst Montageverfahren

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3678741A (en) * 1971-03-24 1972-07-25 Gen Motors Corp Engine combustion monitor
US4387594A (en) * 1981-03-23 1983-06-14 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Water level indicator having a remote and a local readout display
US4397182A (en) * 1981-03-31 1983-08-09 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Method of aligning a water level indicator having a remote and a local readout display

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2115899A (en) * 1934-01-09 1938-05-03 Diamond Power Speciality Gauge glass indicator
US4217778A (en) * 1978-10-23 1980-08-19 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Liquid level gauge illuminating system
US4450722A (en) * 1982-07-26 1984-05-29 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Water level gauge with fault detector

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3678741A (en) * 1971-03-24 1972-07-25 Gen Motors Corp Engine combustion monitor
US4387594A (en) * 1981-03-23 1983-06-14 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Water level indicator having a remote and a local readout display
US4397182A (en) * 1981-03-31 1983-08-09 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Method of aligning a water level indicator having a remote and a local readout display

Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5164605A (en) * 1991-08-14 1992-11-17 The Babcock & Wilcox Company Fiber optic displacement sensor using fiber optic coil
US7401512B2 (en) 2002-11-04 2008-07-22 Fossil Steam Technologies Inc. Solid state illuminator for bi-color ported water level gauges
US20050155425A1 (en) * 2002-11-04 2005-07-21 Fossil Steam Technologies Inc. Solid state illuminator for bi-colour ported water level gauges
US7213457B2 (en) * 2002-11-04 2007-05-08 Fossil Power Systems Inc. Solid state illuminator for bi-color ported water level gauges
US20070144252A1 (en) * 2002-11-04 2007-06-28 Fossil Power Systems, Inc. Solid-state illuminator for bi-color ported water level gauges
US20050056091A1 (en) * 2003-09-12 2005-03-17 Kowalski Kenneth H. Liquid level gage and illuminator therefor
US7047806B2 (en) * 2003-09-12 2006-05-23 Clark-Reliance Corporation Liquid level gage and illuminator therefor
WO2005059481A1 (fr) * 2003-12-19 2005-06-30 Fenghua Zhang Appareil de chauffage d'eau a usage domestique dote d'un indicateur de niveau d'eau colore
US20100089566A1 (en) * 2006-06-08 2010-04-15 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Consumable downhole tools
US20100314127A1 (en) * 2006-06-08 2010-12-16 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Consumable downhole tools
US8291970B2 (en) 2006-06-08 2012-10-23 Halliburton Energy Services Inc. Consumable downhole tools
US8272446B2 (en) 2006-06-08 2012-09-25 Halliburton Energy Services Inc. Method for removing a consumable downhole tool
US20070284097A1 (en) * 2006-06-08 2007-12-13 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Consumable downhole tools
US20100108328A1 (en) * 2006-06-08 2010-05-06 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Method for Removing a Consumable Downhole Tool
US20100108327A1 (en) * 2006-06-08 2010-05-06 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Consumable Downhole Tools
US8256521B2 (en) 2006-06-08 2012-09-04 Halliburton Energy Services Inc. Consumable downhole tools
US20090308620A1 (en) * 2006-07-20 2009-12-17 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Method for Removing a Sealing Plug from a Well
US7591318B2 (en) 2006-07-20 2009-09-22 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Method for removing a sealing plug from a well
US8056638B2 (en) 2007-02-22 2011-11-15 Halliburton Energy Services Inc. Consumable downhole tools
US20080202764A1 (en) * 2007-02-22 2008-08-28 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Consumable downhole tools
US8322449B2 (en) 2007-02-22 2012-12-04 Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. Consumable downhole tools
US8235102B1 (en) 2008-03-26 2012-08-07 Robertson Intellectual Properties, LLC Consumable downhole tool
US8327926B2 (en) 2008-03-26 2012-12-11 Robertson Intellectual Properties, LLC Method for removing a consumable downhole tool
US11183284B2 (en) * 2015-06-01 2021-11-23 Digital Hospital, Inc. Dosage confirmation apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS61105425A (ja) 1986-05-23
ZA856600B (en) 1986-04-30
EP0174178A1 (en) 1986-03-12
JPH0253730B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1990-11-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4633711A (en) Local display technique for fiber optic illuminator/hood system
US4048486A (en) Lighting device for fiber-optic systems
US4450722A (en) Water level gauge with fault detector
CN112534305A (zh) 用于光学监视至少一个区域的装置和方法
EP0355134B1 (en) Optical fluid level sensor
US4387594A (en) Water level indicator having a remote and a local readout display
CA1112082A (en) Liquid level gauge illuminating system
US4397182A (en) Method of aligning a water level indicator having a remote and a local readout display
KR850007466A (ko) 규석격막모듈의 격막이 휘는 정도를 감지하기 위한 시스템
US4624567A (en) Fluid particle sensor
JPH0338656Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
EP0135350B1 (en) Systems for transmitting light
JPS61144542A (ja) 伝送用フアイバ−のトラブル検出安全装置
SU746649A1 (ru) Датчик дыма
SU1144077A1 (ru) Устройство дл стыковки волоконного световода с излучателем
JPS57153480A (en) Test device of light emitting element
SU1472760A1 (ru) Устройство дл бесконтактного измерени размеров деталей
JPS5729923A (en) Measuring device for refractive characteristic of optical system
JPS5679928A (en) Temperature detector
DE3120051A1 (de) Optoelektrischer wandler
JPH0142369B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JPS61262024A (ja) Ｏｆケ−ブルの漏油検出方法
JPH0258587B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JPS57190244A (en) Leakage detector
JPS56143928A (en) Optical wavelength branching device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY, THE NEW ORLEANS, LA., A

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:HIPPLE, JAMES H.;SMITH, DON W.;REED, NEIL E.;REEL/FRAME:004310/0962

Effective date: 19840828

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 19910106